Malai ice cream shop stands out from the frozen confection scene with their menu of South Asian, Indian inspired flavors.. my favorite flavors so far are Mango & Cream & Saffron Pistachio. The employees on multiple visits to the shop were patient & attentive. [[HIGHLIGHT]]There are 2 small tables with seating and there is some window seating on cushioned bench/ window inner areas.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Lovely little ice cream shop, definitely a must- try place for ice cream lovers! read more

Malai has a really cool concept and is probably a great intro spot for people who are just starting to explore more global-inspired ice cream flavors, but for me, the execution was a little mixed. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The shop itself is small but cute, nicely decorated, with 2 mini tables and a couple of windowsill seats if you want to sit for a bit.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Staff was super friendly and generous with samples, which I appreciated since some of the flavors are definitely outside the usual ice cream comfort zone. They also sell pints to take home. Flavor-wise, I tried the masala chai, black cherry cardamom, and the saffron soft serve. The saffron soft serve reminded me of the leftover milk from ras malai turned into soft serve, which was interesting and nostalgic. The masala chai and cherry cardamom were more subtle than I hoped. Some tasted unique upfront but left a slightly weird aftertaste that kind of lingered. I respect what they're trying to do and can see why people love it, especially if you're easing into more globally inspired desserts, but for the price, I wanted stronger flavor payoff and a cleaner finish. TLDR: Unique global inspired ice cream flavors, friendly staff, and free samples, but some flavors felt muted and had an odd aftertaste. Worth trying once if you're curious, but expensive for what it is. read more

Malai - 2 scoops Cherry Black Cardamom Masala Chai - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Yes, Malai has some of the most deliciously creamy ice cream that you can find. Yes, they are using South Asian ingredients to produce interesting and tasty flavors that you never knew you always wanted. The Masala Chai is always on the menu, but they rotate many things through seasonally. Yes, I am boring and often would rather have a sea salt vanilla cone (or another simple, vanilla-based option like sweet cream and cookies). [[HIGHLIGHT]]Yes, my wife told me that eating our cones in the comfy window seats made her feel like she was in a romcom.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] No, you can't have my wife's number. Yes, it was rude of you to ask. read more

Malai - Milk & Cookies - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Super cute place . I love the unique flavors . I tried the cilantro and mint and the guava chilli . I really liked the guava chilli and the cilantro mint was soooo intense so I didn't really care for it but it was nice to try . The workers here were sweet and helpful . I will def be back to try the vegan mango soft serve read more

Malai - Guava chilli Cilantro Mint - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

What a great little spot for unusual flavors scoop or soft serve! I say bring on the flavors dont be shy more rose in particular. I will definitely be back. Nice service not many seats take togo. read more

Malai - Rose and ? - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Loved the classic flavors as well as the Diwali specials! The south asian inspired flavors are done very well here and worth a visit if youre in the area! Would definitely recommend taking a pint home! 5/5 Masala Chai 4.5/5 Rose with Cinnamon Roasted Almond 4.5/5 Peda (Pistachio) read more

Malai - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I love so many of their flavors that obviously leans toward south Asian flavors like the masala chai and the mango cream. My friends and I came Friday afternoon and sadly the soft serve machine was broken. I'll just have to come back! The service was so patient and friendly and currently you're only allowed 4 samples which was more than enough to make a decision. This day I indulged with a split scoop of mango and cream and the guava chili. Really interesting combo - both the fruits were so refreshing on such a hot summer day. Plus Carroll Park is very close to sit and relax to enjoy your ice cream as well read more

Malai - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Went to try this South Asia ice cream and it was so good!! Loved the rose cinnamon ice cream !!will come come but to the new store at west village and try the saffron soft serve!! read more

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Got a delicious vegan ice cream sandwich to go but I'd love to try an ice cream scoop another time. The sandwich was delicious - chocolate chili cookie with spiced peanut crunch ice cream (all vegan). The combination of flavors and textures were so unique. I'd definitely buy this again and look forward to getting a scoop in the warmer weather. read more

Malai - Vegan chocolate chili cookie with spiced peanut crunch ice cream ice cream sandwich - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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When you find a cute little ice cream shop called Malal which translates to Cream in Hindi , you expect something special. After a long walk along Dumbo neighborhood decided to drive back home and discovered this place on the way , Had to take a peek at what was on the menu . Walked in to a cozy little shop , bright and well lit with unique flavors on the menu. I tried the. Vegan flavors first and liked every one of them in the following order Pineapple coconut with pink peppercorn , Guvava chili and Cilantro mint with Serrano chilis . I could taste the ingredients individually in each flavor. The mix of heat from Red vs Green Chili's or Pink Peppercorns made it quite complex in taste , yet had a clean lingering finish on the palette . Pineapple coconut vegan ice cream was creamy tangy , slight sweet from the coconut with the subtle aroma and kick from the Pink Peppercorn that was a riot in my mouth. I tasted a few other flavors like Fig on Fig , Mango, Curry leaf and Chai . One tasted better than the other . This is truly an offbeat menu with a wide medley of wild ingredients pulled together in a perfect harmony of flavors . Need more spots like Malai to keep the food enthusiasts taste buds excited and guessing. read more

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This is hands-down the most unique ice cream I have ever had. It's absolutely amazing. The flavors are super unique. They have rose ice cream or masala, chai ice cream or date cake ice cream but every single flavor is absolutely incredible and I would definitely come back. read more

An ice cream shop with flavors you don't commonly see in other places. Tried what was probably their most popular flavor, rose with cinnamon roasted almonds. What an amazing ice cream flavor. Great texture, subtle, the rose flavor was not overpowering, not too sweet, perfect! I really enjoyed the ice cream and will definitely come back to try the other interesting flavors they offer. read more

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SERVICE - located in carroll gardens near the bergen street metro station - store is spacious and has some seating areas for smaller groups inside - no restroom available - workers let you try the different flavors and are good about recommending which ones they like - large variety of flavors available as pints in the freezer MENU - south Asian inspired ice cream - vegan options available - average price ($6 per scoop) FOOD - chocolate chili cookie with spiced peanut crunch ice cream sandwich (9/10): this product came from the freezer. Although there was one vegan option as a scoop, I was more enticed to try the combination of chocolate and peanut butter enhanced by spices. It did not fail. The cookie was the star of the show, with a perfectly balanced combination of bitter chocolate and spicy chili powder. The peanut butter flavor in the ice cream was subtle but added just the right amount of creaminess and sweetness to tone down the spices. WOULD I GO BACK? Yes! I would love to see more of the vegan flavors when they rotate them seasonally. read more

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Ordered: Trio Scoop (~$9): Rose with Cinnamon Roasted Almonds, Fig on Fig, and Guava Chili Soft Serve Swirl (~$6) on Waffle Cone (+$2): Vegan Mango and Cardamom Yogurt Aya's take: Places like Malai remind me that there is still innovation happening in the food space! We stopped by for a sweet treat and were completely enamored by the range and depth of their flavors. I could barely make a decision and ended up going with a Trio Scoop of Rose with Cinnamon Roasted Almonds, Fig on Fig, and Guava Chili. The Rose with Cinnamon Roasted Almonds and Fig on Fig are outstanding! I'm a sucker for rose and this was done just right. It was creamy, florally, and nutty. Fig on Fig was somehow even better than the Rose! It's lightly sweet, earthy, and the dried fig jam swirls were so good. The Guava Chili was refreshing with a kick! It didn't go with the other 2 flavors but on its own, very solid! As if that wasn't enough, we got the Vegan Mango and Cardamom Yogurt Soft Serve Swirl. I don't think any other place in the city is offering a swirl with these flavor profiles. It was creamy, light, and each flavor complimented one another well. Great try! read more

Malai - Trio Scoop (~$9): Rose with Cinnamon Roasted Almonds, Fig on Fig, and Guava Chili - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Their ice cream flavor selection is amazing! It's a small ice cream shop but super popular. I stopped by on a Saturday night around 10pm and there were lots of people there! read more

Malai - Rose with Cinnamon Roasted Almonds - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Perfect way to cool down during this hot summer heat! Staff was awesome and super nice about letting us try different types of ice cream. They had an amazing selection and great toppings. I would come back here again and again if I lived in NY. read more

Malai - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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As a person picky about spices, I only ended up with sea salt vanilla as the only flavor I can eat. It tasted similar to store bought vanilla ice cream read more

Malai - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

love the flavors here!! some flavors change seasonally and the soft serves rotate too read more

Malai - chai soft serve - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I thought the flavors were very unique but I was not a fan of the taste. I tried the masala chai - my sister loved it but I thought it was ok. I liked the mango+cream one more as it was sweeter. Staff was super friendly and attentive. Some indoor seating. read more

Malai - Chai Masala and Mango & Cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

The promise of pumpkin garam masala crumble ice cream drew me to Brooklyn and it was quite an experience. The combination of masala and pumpkin was definitely a novel affair. Service was quick and the vibe was illuminated by the windows which allowed in massive amounts of natural light. My wife and I ate our ice cream out front and it was a quintessential autumn afternoon. Will be back next year for this flavor again. read more

AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING spot for ice cream!! It's a small but mighty spot -- there isn't a ton of seating and is more amenable to enjoying your ice cream on the go or while standing (we came in the winter, so we opted to stay in the store while eating). To start, the flavors of ice cream and options are so creative and all sound so delicious. Deciding what scoop to get was a real challenge. The person behind the counter was luckily incredibly sweet and gave us some recommendations and samples of ice cream during our visit. I found out that the flavors change every few months which is incredible but also sad because I loved the flavors we got to have that day! The baklava ice cream is fanatic and even has some additional texture in the form of baklava chunks in the creamiest ice cream. It wasn't too sweet and overpowering and I could have eaten it forever. I'm definitely coming back to try the new flavors! read more

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Cherry black cardamom ice cream was one of the best flavors I've ever tasted. Would highly recommend read more

Malai - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Cute inside. Love the color and decor. The detail and vibe. The staff is always lovely and the ice cream is delicious and different. I appreciate the flavor combinations they offer and I don't care if it's summer/winter/fall/spring - I'm going! Truly delicious! read more

We were craving something sweet and decided to stop by Malai for dessert. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a cute little shop, though seating is limited.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They offer a variety of unique, seasonal flavors with an Indian twist. We tried the Cherry Black Cardamom and Cinnamon Honeybun. I personally loved the Cinnamon Honeybun--it was rich, flavorful, and unlike anything you'd find in regular ice cream shops. The spices give the ice cream a warm, aromatic feel--almost like walking through an Indian spice market. If you've ever had Indian chai, some of the flavors might remind you of that. It's subtle, comforting, and definitely worth a try! The staff was quick and friendly, which made the experience even better. read more

Finally, I was able to try the ice cream here! They had so many different unique ice cream flavors to choose from & also soft serves (mango or coconut). I did 2 scoops (masala chai & mango + cream). The staff was so friendly and helpful - she allowed us to try the guava chili & pineapple pink peppercorn. Masala chai - If you love masala chai flavors, you will enjoy this very much. Super favorful w/ strong masala chai taste, w/ just the right amount of sweetness (not too sweet), and was very creamy. My sister did not like it that much, so I ended up eating all of it (my luck!) Mango+Cream - This flavor is a bit sweeter than the masala chai so it paired well w/ it. When eaten together, it was a burst of exciting flavors! The mango flavor was strong & it was very creamy + milky. I enjoyed this flavor very much. I thought it would taste like mango lassi, but it didn't. Guava Chili - excellent guava taste & the spice (chili part) kicks in right afterwards. It was a bit weird for me. But that guava flavor was amazing! This flavor remind me of the mexican chamoyada dessert, but in guava flavor. Pineapple pink peppercorn - similar to the guava chili. The pineapple flavor was nice and then you get the spice kick right afterwards. This was so interesting to try, but it wasn't for me. Super friendly & helpful staff. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Love the decor of the shop.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Excellent & unique ice creams! [[HIGHLIGHT]]There were some areas to eat indoors.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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I was so excited to finally try Malai, it had been on my list for a while! I convinced my friend to make the trip & while the flavors themselves didn't disappoint, the experience did. I tried two flavors before deciding what to get in the moment & after purchasing my ice cream, I went back to buy a pint. However, the cashier only allowed me to try one more flavor, making it a total of just three samples even after I had already made a purchase. I would have bought more pints, but without being able to sample, I stuck to 2 of the Pistachio Saffron. To make it more frustrating, after reading reviews, it turns out that other employees have allowed customers to try more flavors. I get that it was a Saturday, but it wasn't even busy. It honestly felt like her shift was about to end--who knows--but her tone was noticeably nicer to other customers. She also rushed us through our order & didn't even seem to know which flavors were in the soft serve, which made the experience more confusing. These aren't your typical vanilla or chocolate chip flavors, so sampling really mattered. We weren't asking for full spoons, just a small taste would have been enough. [[HIGHLIGHT]]As someone of Indian descent, I also expected a more authentic experience.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The staff didn't seem knowledgeable about the flavors, & other customers were relying on us for descriptions. It felt odd, like going to an Italian restaurant & not being greeted by anyone familiar with Italian cuisine. After taking three subway transfers to get there, I don't think I'd return. Instead, I'd recommend visiting any Indian grocery store like Patel Brothers & trying Vadilal-branded ice creams--you can get smaller sizes & sample a variety for the price of one pint here. Honestly, it'll probably be a better & more authentic experience. For a more authentic cultural vibe (though no ice cream), visit Kolkata Chai Co.--you'll enjoy the staff's warmth, the energy, & of course, their flavorful, thoughtfully crafted chai! The flavors we did try at Malai were good, but the interaction with the staff completely ruined it for us. read more

Malai - Saffron Pistachio - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Not only is the ice cream unique and absolutely delicious, but the people who work here are so so nice and friendly. They let you sample any flavor with delight and, trust me, they're all so good you'll have trouble deciding! read more

I've never had such unique and flavorful ice cream! I love how they let you sample if you are there for the first time. The lady on service was really nice and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the ambiance was nice and cozy to sit in[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] - def recommend for a unique experience. My favorite flavors are the rose petal and cardamom. read more

Malai - Red Chili Chocolate - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Solid option for post-dinner ice cream. They have an interesting mix of flavors. We enjoyed the mango & cream after sampling some of the others. Their seating area is cute and the overall vibe fits the area well. Worth stopping in on your walk back to your car/home. read more

Here's a sharp draft of your review for Malai on Smith Street: --- Review for Malai (Smith Street location): I went in with high expectations and walked out utterly disgusted. I ordered a split scoop, left the shop, and within two minutes the ice cream had already melted into a soupy mess. It wasn't ice cream at all -- it was basically soft serve trying (and failing) to hold its shape. By the time I took two bites, it was literally turning into a milkshake in my hand. I brought it back immediately, hoping they would recognize how unacceptable it was, but the product itself was beyond redemption. For a place branding itself as an artisanal ice cream shop, this was a complete joke. When you pay premium prices, you expect premium quality -- not something that melts faster than it's served. If you're looking for real ice cream with actual texture and stability, skip Malai. Don't waste your time or money here. You just lost a loyal customer. Hope it was worth it saving your two pennies. read more

The Indian flavors they created are awesome! They really push the flavors forward. Some of my favorites were the cinnamon with salty caramel and the cardamom ones. read more

Malai - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I loved that the service was friendly and so willing to let us try multiple samples. The flavors here are unique compared to other ice cream shops, so I definitely recommend sampling a few on your first visit. I got apricot mace and enjoyed it but I think I liked my boyfriend's flavor more (I think he got rose with cinnamon almonds or one with cardamom). Prices were pretty typical of an ice cream shop these days ($6+). Store front has limited seating and was moderately busy when we came on a Friday night. read more

Malai - Apricot Mace - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I was so intrigued to try all of the flavors at Malai! They have seasonal flavors as well as year round flavors and they ask you to only try 4 flavors. I got the peda (seasonal) because it was sweet and had chunks of pistachios in it. The chai that is always available was also very good. read more

Malai - Peda - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Wow! There needs to be more ice cream places like Malai. Such a refreshing take on what could be the same old same old. I ordered the fig on fig, as did my husband. We loved it! Sweet and caramelly but not overly so. We also took home a pint of the sweet corn saffron ice cream. That one was a little more unique and maybe not exactly my taste, but still tasty and fun to try. I would love to return as soon as I have the chance! read more

Malai - Fig on Fig - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Tasty, unique, and very well-thought out flavors which allow South Asian flavors to shine. Highly recommend the cardamom pistachio crumble or baklava, but there's a flavor for everyone. Pints available in-store, as well as at select local Whole Foods (limited flavors) if you're not near the brick and mortar location. Would opt for this over Van Leeuwen ANYDAY!! read more

Malai - Cardamom pistachio and Rose with Cinnamon Roasted Almonds - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

My husband and I stopped by this ice cream shop after dinner last Saturday. I wanted to have something festive for Diwali. We both sampled different flavors before settling in the following. I ordered two flavors of ice cream in a cone for $9.50: Pumpkin garam masala crumble and Masala chai. The price includes the price of the cone. My husband got a single flavor which was Spiced Peanut Crunch on a cone. I really enjoyed the flavors I got. It was not your typical ice cream flavors and I liked the combination of spices in ice cream. It's nice to have one in a while. The service was good. The staff are friendly and helpful. The ambiance was nice. The shop is cozy and fun. I'm looking forward to trying other flavors the next time I'm in the area. I didn't know the ice cream was sold at the Whole Foods Market. Definitely have to check that out. read more

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Came with my boyfriend on a Friday night! We are both ice cream snobs (I make ice cream as one of my hobbies so I'm very critical). ICE CREAM: What I appreciate about this place is the unique flavors. There's clearly an Indian influence, so there's use of saffron, turmeric, etc. We shared a triple scoop with Mango and Cream, Saffron Pistachio, Chocolate Coconut. My favorite was saffron pistachio, which is surprising because I don't even like pistachios (although I guess I do like pistachio ice cream). I was generally disappointed by the mango and cream, I was actually really excited for this one, but there was very little mango flavor or pieces in the ice cream itself. Chocolate coconut was decent, but it could've included a little bit more chocolate flavor, and it had some iciness to it, which was a bummer. SERVICE: the two young people working here were delightful. I found them to be friendly and personable, more than your average ice cream scooper. When my boyfriend and I ordered the triple scoop, they were like "yeah that's the move, getting a triple and sharing is definitely the best value, more people should do it". A+ for service here. AMBIANCE: the shop itself is actually a quite decent size for NYC and it does have some seating for people inside. There's also a good bit of seating outside. Overall, I think the ambience is pretty cute. OVERALL: Not a bad option, but definitely was not very impressed. Maybe I need to give them another try with some different flavors. read more

Malai - Trio: Mango and Cream, Saffron Pistachio, Chocolate Coconut hiding on the bottom left - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

The flavors are so fun! I had a great time sampling but the rose one really spoke to me. I love the inspiration behind the flavor combos and the staff was so nice to share their recommendations. The space is colorful and bright, with lots of cheery energy. They also have pints and ice pops in the fridge up front. Something for everyone really. read more

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I am a sucker for desserts with Asian flavors so I knew I would like this place and and it did not disappoint. You won't see any plain old vanilla or chocolate peanut butter on the menu here. Everything is Indian-inspired so you'll see plenty of chili, spices and herbs on the menu. The summer seasonal flavor right now is sweet corn saffron which is easily one of the best corn-flavored ice creams I've had. We also tried the saffron pistachio, which nut lovers will enjoy because it goes super heavy on the pistachio. The saffron is both scoops adds a touch of savoriness but not overwhelming at all. True to Asian desserts, the ice cream here is "not too sweet" which is just right for me. read more

Great Indian ice cream spot - super creamy, unique flavors, and generous portions. Everything you can ask for in an ice cream parlor nowadays! Was able to sample a few flavors before deciding on the cinnamon rose w/ almonds & mangos & cream split scoop (basically two scoops). Also - service was friendly and helpful with recommendations. Will be back again! read more